Flash-sign.



PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907. r

J. S. NESBITT.

FLASH SIGN. APPLICATION rnnn $3212.10, 1900.

John LS. Afieshii WIT N58859:

ATTOR/i/Ef JOHN S. NESBITT, OF VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

FLASH-SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Application filed September 10,1906. Serial No. 334,040.

the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flash-Signs, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an electric flash sign designed to illuminate various letters from one compound sectionally divided letter frame, so that such letters may be successively flashed in a predetermined order regulated by an automatic mechanical switch, to spell out certain words; by which means an economy of light and a smaller and cheaper form of sign may be made use of than would be necessary to expose such word or words in an entire sign.

The invention is fully set forth in the following specification reference being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied, in which,

Figure 1, is a face elevation of the sign adapted to show the letters B, E, R and 5c, Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same, and, Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, face views to a smaller scale setting forth the illumination of the sign to show the several letters for which it has been designed.

In these drawings 2 represents the frame of the sign on which the compound letter is secured, and in the outer face 3 of which frame the lamp bulb sockets 4 necessary to illuminate the various sections which go to make up the several letters are secured.

The compound letter frame consists of an open trough shaped figure the walls 6 of which are secured to and project from the outer face of 3. The conformation of the figure 6 is of such general outline that it will inclose within its limits the several letters for which it is designed, in this case B E R and 5 c. This compound letter frame 6 is divided by partitions 7 into sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, which when illuminated in certain combinations by electric light bulbs in the sockets 4, will show forth the desired letter while the other sections not required for the formation of such letter will remain in darkness. Thus when the letter B is required all the sections are illuminated with the exception of 9 and 15 as shown in Fig. 3; for E, as represented in Fig. 4 8, 12, 13, and 14 are illumed while the remaining sections 9, 10, ll, 15 are cut out; for R, see Fig. 5, all are illumed save 9 and 14; and the figure 5, see Fig. 6, requires the illumination of 8, 11, 13, 14.

The illumination of the various sections required is attained by an automatic mechanical switch which not being material to this application need not be here described.

The sign illustrated was designed to flash Beer 5c and as it is desirable that the c be displayed with the 5, I provide over the division 9, which is not required for the display of any of the letters, a plate or cover 16 having the letter c stencil-cut therein. The division 9 is therefore illuminated along with those necessary to display the 5 and the desired 5c is shown.

To provide access to the lamp socket of the covered compartment 9 for the renewal oithe bulb when necessary the plate 16 is hinged to the wall of the general figure 6 as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be obvious that with the addition of other partitions and electric light bulbs the same general figure can be made to show other letters such as CD F G H I J L O P Q S U.

Having now particularly described my invention and the manner of its construction and use, I hereby declare that what I claim as new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent is:

1. In a flash sign, a sign board including a general letter frame comprising an outer rectangular figure having a raised border and two inner rectangular figures one above the other having similar raised borders, partitions dividing the general letter frame at the positions of variation of the several letters or figures which the sign is designed to display, sockets for the reception of electric lamp bulbs in the several sections so divided, and a cover plate stencil cut to show a certain letter or figure, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a flash sign, a general letter frame trough shaped in cross section the outline of which frame includes within it the several letters which the sign is designed to display, partitions at the positions of variation of the several letters, a cover plate stencil-cut to show a certain letter or figure, and sockets in the several sections for the reception of electric light bulbs.

3. In a flash sign, the sign frame 2 and 3, the letter frame 6 secured to the face of 3, the partitions 7 dividing the letter frame into the sections 8, 9 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, the hinged cover plate over the section 9 which plate is stencil-cut with a c and the lamp bulb sockets 4 in the several sections.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN S. NESBITT.

Witnesses:

ETIIEL M. MILLS, WM. C. MORESBY. 

